Sandcastles Nursery and Beach School

Sandcastles Private Day Nursery 425 Marine Road East, MORECAMBE, Lancashire, LA4 6AA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 March 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching is good. All children are supported well, including those who speak English as an additional language. Staff liaise effectively with parents and help children to become confident communicators.  The enthusiastic manager is ambitious and committed to providing the best quality care and learning for all children. She evaluates and reflects on their practice on an ongoing basis. The manager leads an experienced and well-qualified staff team who work well to make improvements.  The outdoor area is a highly stimulating learning environment. It offers numerous opportunities for children to take risks, problem solve and test out ideas.  Staff monitor children's progress and attainment closely. Generally, they address gaps in learning quickly. A whole setting approach to mathematical development has resulted in improvements where children have benefited highly.  Children's behaviour is very good. They respond well to praise and encouragement.

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This provision is good

Staff teach them to have respect for others and children are well mannered and polite.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring procedures for staff performance are not yet focused fully on raising the quality of their practice to an even higher level.  Individual children's learning is not always meticulously planned for. The information gathered from observations of children's needs, interests and abilities, is sometimes not used really effectively to identify specific next steps in children's learning and development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the process for monitoring staff performance and focus more precisely on helping staff to develop an expert knowledge of teaching  make the most of what is known about individual children so specific areas of development can be targeted to help children make best progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all rooms of the nursery and outside. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability of staff working with children and looked at relevant documentation, such as, the safeguarding procedure, the nursery's self-evaluation and children's progress files.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection. She took into account their views.  The inspector held an interview with the manager of the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Policies and procedures are regularly discussed and reviewed. Staff are confident in the procedures to take should a child be at risk of harm or abuse. The manager ensures that children are supervised effectively and ratios are always met. Visitors are closely supervised and staff complete robust risk assessments to help ensure that all areas are safe. Children's attendance is examined closely to help ensure continuity of learning and support for children and families, as necessary. The manager and staff use effective tracking tools to support children, particularly in the area of speech and language. Staff recruitment is robust. Effective induction procedures help to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

A good range of books and reading materials is available in all areas. Children's enjoyment of books is evident. They sit reading to themselves and choose books to share with members of staff. Children clearly enjoy the outdoor environment and become deeply engrossed in cooperative role play, exploration and investigation. They connect with nature and learn to control their bodies as they balance and negotiate the spaces at different levels. Overall, the available space and resources are used effectively and children sustain their motivation to learn. Older children and younger children play well together in areas of their choice. Staff carefully oversee this and encourage older children to help younger ones. Staff effectively support children to develop their imagination and communication skills. Children are active, creative learners who use the environment and resources independently. For example, children develop their own ideas while playing in

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

the garden centre role-play activity. There is a wealth of resources to support children's mathematical skills and literacy development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are very happy, confident and comfortable within the nursery. It is homely, welcoming and inviting. The effective key-person system supports children's well-being as they join the nursery. Detailed information is gathered from parents when children first start. This helps staff to tailor the individual care and learning needs required for each child. Staff share information with parents and find out about routines children follow at home. The home learning environment is highly valued. Staff invite parents to share observations from home. In addition, parents are given opportunities to continue sharing a wealth of activities at home with their children. Mealtimes are happy, social occasions, and staff make good use of these opportunities to help children develop their independence skills. For example, children serve themselves their own food and pour their own drinks.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are making good progress in their learning and development. The managers and staff closely monitor individual and groups of children. Funding is used effectively. Appropriate interventions are put in place to help children make good progress in their learning and development. Children are supported well to acquire the skills needed in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476948 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 975524 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 70 Name of provider Sandcastles Childrens Nursery Limited Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01524 831932

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Setting details

Sandcastles Private Day Nursery was registered in 2014. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including the manager who holds Early Years Professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 5.45pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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